Coming Full Circle at the CU School of Dental Medicine

from 50 Years of Innovation at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine

by University of Colorado Anschutz Advancement

The American Dream Emanouela Carlson, DDS ’09

Kunjan Kakar, DDS (ISP ’10), MS, BDS, described her time at the CU School of Dental Medicine as “two of the best years of my life! I loved every moment of it and was sad when I graduated. I enjoyed the learning process and decided to come back.”

Kakar said she grew as a person and provider, learning to look at patients holistically—emotionally, mentally, medically, physically and spiritually. “I had a strong community and felt supported and encouraged to be my best self. The faculty taught me to do the right thing without putting me down or taking away my individuality.”

She had such a positive experience that she wanted to return and teach. The faculty members, now her colleagues, taught her how to go above and beyond and that representation matters.

“I treat students with respect; inclusivity and being a welcoming force are important,” she shared. “I make students feel more like colleagues and less like students; I treat them with the same respect and kindness I was treated with when I was a student.”

Kakar said the faculty members who made and continue to make her experience at the SDM incredible are: former ISP Director Elizabeth Towne, DDS; Robert Averbach, DDS; Brian Brada, DDS ’80; Walter Daniels, DMD; Hong Li, PhD; Lonnie Johnson, DDS, PhD; Brad Potter, DDS, MS; and Daniel Wilson, DDS.

William Bailey, DDS ’82, MPH

Ret. RADM

Former Delta Dental Endowed Chair in the Prevention of Early Childhood Caries

Former Chair, Department of Community Dentistry and Population Health

William Bailey, DDS ’82, MPH, described his dental career as “a delightful, unexpected journey.” He dreamt of becoming a veterinarian but could not afford the tuition. Eventually, he became an elementary school teacher and attended night courses to complete the prerequisite courses needed to apply to vet school. He said his university changed the requirements, and then he fell short in the credits earned. It was then that a turning point happened.

“A dentist friend of our family suggested applying to dental school, which I did, and, fortunately, I was chosen as a member of the University of Colorado School of Dentistry Class of 1982.”

The school had only been established by the legislature five years earlier. Bailey recalled, “The curriculum was demanding —far harder than I imagined. The faculty members expected the best but were highly supportive.”

He said 25 “top-notch” members of his class became lifelong friends. “Without my classmates, I would not have succeeded. One of my study group members, James DeLapp, DDS ’82, MS, is a faculty member at the SDM developing new teaching approaches. Another member of our study group, Mike Hurtado, DDS, has been the Colorado State Mental Hospital dentist for the past 30 years and remains a close friend. And my current dentist, Deborah Deeg, DDS ’82, also graduated from our class.”

Bailey said a key mentor of his was Rich Call, DDS. “He taught the public health courses and asked our class whether we thought healthcare was a right or a privilege. Only three students thought healthcare was a right, and this fed into my strong personal support of health equity.”

Former Director, Center for Oral Disease Prevention and Population Health

Former Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Dental Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service

Hometown: Pueblo, CO

Bailey also worked on prevention initiatives, such as coordinating a sealant program on Guam reaching 18,000 children each year, implementing fluoridation in 15 Native American communities in North Dakota and South Dakota, and serving as a fluoridation expert, educator and principal spokesperson for community water fluoridation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He previously served as Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Dental Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service and acting director of the Oral Health Division at the CDC.

For the last eight years of his 40-year career, Bailey was a professor at the SDM where he worked alongside what he described as “incredibly talented and committed” faculty, administration, staff and students. “It is heartwarming knowing students continue to receive an outstanding dental education at the University of Colorado.”

Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry

CU School of Dental Medicine

Hometown: New Delhi, India

The health equity conversation ultimately became the heart of Bailey’s career. He spent nearly 32 years on active duty as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). He spearheaded the development of the first-ever Health and Human Services Strategic Framework on Oral Health with input from more than a dozen federal agencies.

After all of his accomplishments, the one thing that Bailey is most proud of in his career is seeing others succeed. “Whether this involved student admissions to residency programs, faculty advancement or people finding the job of their dreams, it gave me immense pleasure to assist them on their journeys.”

From The Alumni Office

SAVE THE DATES:

September 29–30, 2023

CU Anschutz All Alumni Celebration

November 19, 2023

CU Night at Zoo Lights

January 2024

CU Dental Alumni Reception at RMDC

GET INVOLVED! CONTACT US:

Gaby Ferreiro-Chavez Alumni Relations Program Manager healthalumni@cuanschutz.edu

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

CU Anschutz Medical Campus Block Party

HelloThe CU Anschutz alumni community is a welcoming and active network of more than 56,000 graduates from all schools on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Our alumni are important ambassadors between the university and the greater healthcare community, and vital mentors for our students and recent grads. The CU School of Dental Medicine alumni network comprises more than 3,200 graduates.

This past January, alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students celebrated with us at the CU Dental Alumni Reception at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention (RMDC), pictured here. We hope you’ll join us for future alumni programming where you can: